Via Campesina in the Lebanese solidarity mission
15/08/2006
- Opinión
Declaration by la Via Campesina on its participation in the Lebanese solidarity mission
La Via Campesina is an international organisation working in defence
of small farmers, fishermen and women, landless and agricultural
workers. This movement includes over 130 organisations and represents
tens of millions of farmers. It fights against the neo-liberal model
of globalisation that places economic interests over and above social
and environmental conditions.
La Via Campesina has participated with two delegates* in an
international mission of solidarity with the people of Lebanon. The
mission was organised in response to appeals from several Lebanese
organisations. Twelve representatives of social movements, unions,
human rights organisations and unions as well as members of parliament
are part of this mission.
La Via Campesina was in Lebanon to meet the social movements, to visit
the area, to witness and to make known the terrible consequences of
this war for the population. We also want to give our direct support
to the organisations of civil society which are confronted which the
destruction of their country and the dramatic effects for the
population. La Via Campesina is especially concerned about the
consequences for peasants and agricultural workers in the South of the
Lebanon who are heavily hit by this conflict.
The delegation has met different political parties that support the
resistance in Lebanon as well as Hizbullah. Other meetings have taken
place with Lebanese social movements (anti-war movements,
environmental organisations,….), the president of the Republic M.
Emile Lahoud and representatives of the External Affairs Committee of
the Lebanese Parliament and members of the group led by Nabil Berri,
president of the Parliament.
The delegation has visited the heavily bombed suburbs of South Beirut.
Two hours after the departure of the mission other bombings took
place. The delegation met wounded in a hospital as well as displaced
persons that had sought refuge in a school.
Part of the La Via Campesina delegation made use of the cease-fire to
go to Saida, about 40 km South of Beirut in order to meet peasants of
the Organisation of Lebanese Farm Workers.
All the political forces and organisations that we have met have
insisted on the fact that the Israelien aggression had nothing to do
with the kidnapping of the two soldiers by Hizbullah but was planned
already months before by the United States and its ally in the
region, Israel, who only needed a pretext for their agression.
We were able to observe that the vast majority of the Lebanese
population supports the armed resistance, mainly by Hizbullah but also
by other groups. The civil population also resists actively through
its unity in times of crisis - thereby resisting one of the
objectives of this aggression aimed at the fragmentation of Lebanese
society. Its resistence is also shown through the will to make a joint
front against the chaos caused by the war, through mobilisation of
solidarity helping the million of displaced persons and through
preventive actions that have avoided an even bigger humanitarian
catastrophe for the whole of the country.
In the Lebanon there is only one general peasant union, non
confessional and independent of political parties. This is the Union
of Lebanese Farm Workers that have explained to us that the South of
Lebanon has been devastated by the bombings. As much as 70% of the
animal and vegetal production has been destroyed (sheep, goats, cows,
bananas, coffee, tobacco etc.) as well as numerous houses if not
entire villages.
La Via Campesina not only defends the right to justice, equality and
solidarity for farmers, but for all people. That is why during the big
international gatherings such as the World Social Forum and other
spaces of struggle (such as mobilisations against G8, WTO, World Bank
and IMF) and in its efforts to build alliances, La Via Campesina works
with the international social movement to form a front of resistance
to neo-liberal ideology and to promote alternative policies. When
people are assaulted economically or militarily, as in the case of the
Lebanese, we must respond with solidarity and a call for resistance.
Together with others of the social movement, La Via Campesina
denounces the aggression against the civilian population and demands
an immediate halt of the war, the retreat of Israeli forces from
Lebanon, and the placement of an international peacekeeping force
under the direction of the United Nations.
All hostilities must stop in order to facilitate a solution by the way
of negotiation which recognizes the rights and the needs of all people
touched by this conflict. We can never accept a military way as a
solution to the conflict. A return to the negotiating table for an
overall agreement is the only solution.
All people have the right to live in peace with the full recognition
of their fundamental rights.
* Gerard Durand of the Confederation Paysanne France and Kari
Kobberoed Brustad of NBS (Norwegian Small Holders Union) - Norway
Source: Focus on Trade #123
https://www.alainet.org/pt/node/116623
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